As close to perfect as you can get.
Obviously, according to the title and the star count, you can tell this will be a positive review. Since childhood, I've had home gyms, and so I know something about them. I've also belonged to pay-monthly gyms, and have used the huge, free gyms at college, as well. So I have some experience with all the available options for personal workouts. With that said, I've been nothing but impressed with this Bowflex machine. The weight bars, or bows, allow for double the workout, because there is tension in both the pulling of the weight and in the return. Most other machines only provide this amount of tension in the pulling. Therefore, with the Bowflex, you are getting double the workout. That's why the company guarantees a much shorter workout time needed in order to achieve the same effects as other workout machines, including free weights. I don't know exactly how accurate these guarantees are. I would have to run some very expensive, time-consuming tests to verify their results, but I have been satisfied. After a short, 20-min. workout on the Bowflex, I feel like I've been working free weights for over an hour. It really is that good. As for price, I think all workout equipment is overpriced, but if you are wanting a Bowflex, go to Sears. They have deals on them regularly, and we found ours even cheaper because they were making space for newer models. Overall, this machine is excellent and recommended.
daw334
Wilmington, NC